Theology Chapter Three:
In The Name Of The Father, The Son, And
The Holy Spirit
It is Jan 27, 2010. It has been almost a year and a half since I completed writing Chapter Two of my Systematic Theology. At the end of that Chapter, I wrote about how I thought I should focus my writings on materials that might inspire the lost to be saved, and inspire those good Christians who are already saved to work harder and smarter to save others. I regret that it has taken so long for me to get started on this Chapter. Chapter Two took a lot out of me. At the time that I wrote my first two chapters, I did so from Bible study notes that were all sloppy, hand written and very disorganized. I spent most of last year typing all of my Bible study notes up neatly, organizing them and storing them on computer. I also spent quite a bit of time trying to decide what my next subject should be. I had considered writing about pride because I see it as a very serious sin that I and many others overlook. Then one day while attending a Men’s Bible Study at my Church, I was in a group of about 10 men that I considered to be very mature Christians. Most of these men were expressing how they really did not understand who or what the Holy Spirit is. A George Barna nation wide survey from April 2009 of Americans that consider themselves to be Bible-believing Christians, revealed that 58% do not believe the Holy Spirit is a living force. On another day I heard someone say how they had tried praying but it did not seem to work for them and that they did not get much out of it. Well, instead of writing three different chapters on pride, prayer, and the Holy Spirit, I believe that the three: Pride, Prayer and the Holy Spirit are at least slightly related, so I decided to do a little bridging and write one chapter on all three subjects.
As in Chapters One and Two, these writings are not intended to be teachings, or to change anybodies’ heartfelt belief. I intend to state my beliefs and back them up with Scripture. I believe that others should not blindly believe anything that is written here, or anything that is taught by anybody else for that matter. I believe that I should not rely on a Televangelists, Senior Pastor, Home Group Leader, Website or any body else to feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word every day, not just Sunday. I believe that I should examine all of God's Word entirely, both Old Testament and New Testament and prayerfully consider in my own heart what the truth is:
p.1707-ACTS 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Before I go any farther, I pray that these words are God’s words sent to me through the Holy Spirit. I pray that these writings are God’s words, that I am just working the keyboard.
All scriptures listed below are from the NIV Bible translation unless otherwise noted. The page numbers are of my Giant Print NIV Bible.
I guess the best place to begin, would be in the beginning. Scripture tells me that the Holy Spirit and Jesus were with God in the beginning of creation. John 17:5 indicates that Jesus was actually with God before the world began. The term “Word” in the scriptures below, refers to Jesus:
NLT-COLOSSIANS 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.
p.1665-JOHN 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (5)And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
p.1632-JOHN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (2)He was with God in the beginning.
p.1632-JOHN 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.
Genesis 1:1 indicates that the Holy Spirit was with God before man was created, while the earth was empty:
p.1-GENESIS 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
God’s use of the terms “us” and “our” in Genesis 1:26 indicates that Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit helped God make man in their image and likeness:
p.2-GENESIS 1:26 Then God said let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
Like most Christians, I believe that I need to believe in Jesus to be saved:
p.1636-JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
p.1744-ROMANS 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10)For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
p.1744-ROMANS 10:13 for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
p.1706-ACTS 16:30 He then brought them out and asked, Sirs what must I do to be saved? (31)They replied, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved-you and your household.
p.1661-JOHN 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
p.1501-MATTHEW 10:32 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
p.1673-JOHN 20:31 But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
I believe that while baptizing babies with water is a lot of fun and a great photo opportunity, doing so does not gain a child salvation. According to scripture, heaven already belongs to children:
p.1515 MATTHEW 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
MATTHEW 19:14 Jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (15)I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.
I believe that a child is unable to make the decisions, and to do and say the things necessary to gain salvation:
p.1744-ROMANS 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (14)How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard.
Many accept sprinkling of water for baptism as described in the Old Testament:
p.1339-EZEKIEL 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean, I will cleanse you from your impurities and from all your idols. (26)I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will remove from you, your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (27)And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Some Christians believe that baptism in water is unnecessary for salvation. According to scripture this is at least slightly understandable. I believe that the criminal that hung on a cross near Jesus during his crucifixion was taken to heaven because he believed in Jesus. I have found no mention that the criminal was baptized in any way:
p.1628-LUKE 23:42 Then he said, Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. (43)Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.
I believe that as a Christian, I should be baptized by immersion in water. By walking as Jesus did, we mark our decision to live in him:
p.1876-1 JOHN 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
I believe that as Mark 1:10 and Matthew 3:16 refer to Jesus coming up out of the water, scripture indicates that Jesus was baptized by immersion in water. Dr. David R. Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries says, “The English word baptism is a transliteration of the Greek word, baptizo. The Greek word means to immerse. Thus John the Baptist was really John the Immerser.”
p.1488-MATTHEW 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. (14)But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me. Jesus replied, let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented. (16)As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment the heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
p.1540-MARK 1:9 At the time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10)As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
I also believe that I need the Holy Spirit to believe in Jesus:
p.1767-1 CORINTHIANS 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus be cursed, and no one can say, Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
I believe that after his baptism, Jesus received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
p.1540-MARK 1:10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
p.1488-MATTHEW 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment the heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
I believe that after I accept Jesus and am baptized by immersion in water, then I receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit, which can not be bought with money. I also receive the power and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
p.1689-ACTS 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money (19)and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (20)Peter answered:”May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money.
p.1675-ACTS 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (5)For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
p.1678-ACTS 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
p.1675-ACTS 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
p.1736-ROMANS 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
If the apostles knew that someone had only been baptized in Jesus, they would go out of their way to make sure that new believers also received the Holy Spirit:
p.1689-ACTS 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. (15)When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (16)because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them, they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
I believe I should take care of my body because it is not my own. Once I receive the Holy Spirit, my body becomes his Temple:
p.1757-1 CORINTHIANS 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you. (17)If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him, for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
p.1760-1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, (20)you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
p.1740-ROMANS 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
I believe that scripture indicates that as well as believing in Jesus, and being baptized in water, being baptized (immersed) in, and born again of the Holy Spirit, is critical to being saved:
p.1635-JOHN 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
p.1636-JOHN 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (6)Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (7)You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again.
p.1539-MATTHEW 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
p.1768-1CORINTHIANS 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
I am sure that many Christians may disagree with the necessity of all three of the things I have discussed here: Jesus, baptism in water, and baptism in the Holy Spirit to be saved. I would prefer to have all three and not need them, rather than take chances with how I spend eternity. Many may disagree with the importance that I put on the Holy Spirit. Even if the Holy Spirit is not necessary for salvation, I guess that I want everybody to be blessed with the same kind of relationship that I and many others have with the Holy Spirit. I believe there are many at Church that go up front at the time of invitation and state that they believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and accept him as their Lord and Savior. And they are baptized by immersion in water. And then because the Church tells them so, they believe they are saved. And basically, for many, because a Church immerses in water, but only sprinkles the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual journey stops there. I think it is a shame that so many go on without accepting the immersion that establishes and maintains that special relationship with the Holy Spirit. I believe that because the Church tells me about God, I may know about God. But I believe that if I leave out the Holy Spirit I will only know about God, but I will not know God:
NLT-HOSEA 6:6 I want you to be merciful, I don’t want your sacrifices. I want you to know God, that’s more important than burnt offerings.
p.1665-JOHN 17:3 Now this is eternal life that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
How do I get to know somebody? A couple good ways is by talking to them, and sharing time with them. Being a father, I know how pleasing it is to me to share time with my children. I am sure that our Heavenly Father is just as pleased when his children share time with him. I can talk to God through prayer and I believe that one way God speaks back to me is through his Word. Scripture tells us that God revealed himself to Samuel through his word. I believe that God continues to do that. I used to tend to blame the Church for not helping people to establish a deeper relationship with God and the Holy Spirit, for letting the journey stop after the baptism. Actually, the Church constantly tries to encourage the congregation to stay in the Bible throughout the week and to attend Bible studies or Home Groups. I believe that I can always spend more time in His Word on my own. From Sunday to Sunday, many do not touch a Bible. I believe that I should not rely on a Church, a Televangelist, a Senior Pastor, or a Home Group Leader to spoon feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word everyday not just Sunday. Rick Warren says, “It is impossible to be God’s friend apart from knowing what he says. You can’t love God unless you know him, and you can’t know him without knowing his word.” There have been many times that I have had Biblical questions, especially when I was preparing to write Chapter 2. I would pray about the question, open my heart and then open the Bible and stumble directly on a verse that would answer my question:
p.413-1 SAMUEL 3:21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.
p.1489-MATTHEW 4:4 Jesus answered, It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God
p.1860-JAMES 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says. (23)Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24)and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
p.1744-ROMANS 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
p.1844-HEBREWS 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper then any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
I believe that I also get to know The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit by loving God, loving others and obeying the commands of Jesus:
NLT-JOHN 14:15 If you love me, obey my commandments. (16)And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate, who will never leave you. (17)He is the Holy Spirit, who leads you in all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you
NLT-JOHN 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (13)Greater love has no one other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (14)You are my friends if you do what I command.
A few years ago we got a new puppy. We were trying to decide on a name. One night, my wife prayed to God to help her find a word in the Bible that we could use as a name for our puppy. She opened the Bible, put her finger down and started reading what just happened to be Romans 10:8, “the word is near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith. We named our puppy Faith.
I also believe that God speaks to us through other people. There have been many times, that I have been sitting in Church listening to a sermon, and I was certain that the Minister was talking directly to me. I would hear something that I needed to hear or I would hear the answer to a question that had been keeping me awake the night before. One day I was doing volunteer work at a local homeless shelter. I was attempting to remove 6 tree stumps that were sticking out of the ground. I had never removed stumps before so I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I had a large truck, a shovel, and a chainsaw. I had started by attaching a strap to the roots of the first stump and was pulling with my truck and digging around the roots with a shovel. After about 2 hours, I had 1 stump out. Feeling pretty frustrated, I knelt down in the back of my truck and I prayed that God would give me the wisdom to finish removing the rest of the stumps. At this point I was considering sticking the blade of my chainsaw into the dirt to cut the roots. Within minutes a man that I had never seen before, walked up and started chatting with me. He mentioned that he had removed stumps before by tying on to the stump up near the top to get more leverage. Within a few minutes another man walked up and told me he got dirt in the blade of a chainsaw before and it ruined it.
So I attached my strap to the stumps as high as I could and used an axe to chop the roots. I ended up getting the other 5 stumps out in about the same time it took me to remove the first 1. I am certain that God sent those 2 strangers as messengers to provide me with the knowledge to answer my prayers. Many would call my stories about God answering our prayers coincidences. My friends and my family and I all call them God Sightings. I could tell you true stories all day about God Sightings that I have experienced.
I also believe it pleases God when I speak to him through songs of praise:
KJV-PSALM 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
And I believe that God speaks back to me through songs. I frequently hear a song on Christian music radio called “God Speaking” by an artist named Mandisa. One line of the song says “Who knows how He’ll get a hold of us. Get our attention to prove he is enough. He’ll use and He’ll do what ever he wants to, to tell us I love you.” I believe that it was a God sighting that I heard that song on the radio a few weeks ago while I was meditating about this chapter.
I believe it is the Holy Spirit dwelling in me that communicates with me to share the thoughts of God:
1 CORINTHIANS 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (11)For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him. In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
p.1662-JOHN 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (25)All this I have spoken while still with you. (26)But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
p.1664-JOHN 16:12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (13)But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (14)He will bring glory to me by making it known to you. (15)All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
I believe that I receive my gifts from the Holy Spirit:
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each one of us as a means of helping the entire church. (8)To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advise, to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. (9)The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. (10)He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, another is given the gift to interpret what is being said.
And I believe it is the Holy Spirit that has the will to decide which abilities I receive and which abilities I do not receive:
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 12:11 It is the one and only Holy Sprit who decides these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
I believe that if I sow to please the Spirit I will reap eternal life. I believe that in order to please the Spirit, I need to pray to God to find out what his Spirit wants from me. I believe that just as sowing cultivates crops; by sowing to please the Spirit I may cultivate a deeper relationship with the Spirit of God:
GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Rick Warren says, “Don’t wait until tomorrow to begin cultivating a friendship with God. Start today by practicing constant conversation with God and continual meditation on his Word. Prayer lets you speak to God; meditation lets God speak to you.”
As Jesus did, I believe it is good to pray alone:
p.1541-MARK 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
p.1510-MATTHEW 14:23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray, when evening came he was there alone.
p.1585-LUKE 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
p.1493-MATTHEW 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
During a March 15th 2009 sermon, our Senior Pastor told us that Mark 1:35, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, likely refers to the last watch of the night between 3a.m. and 6a.m. I kind of related to the Pastor’s description of Mark 1:35, how Jesus likely spent time alone with God sometime between 3am and 6am. I am frequently driving 30 to 180 minutes to work starting at 2:30am in the morning. I commonly spend much of the time praying, listening to CD recordings of the Bible or listening to CD sermons by my favorite Pastors. On my days off, as much as I need sleep, I am frequently awakened at 3a.m. by the Holy Spirit churning questions and answers in my heart. Sometimes the callings are so persistent that I can't get back to sleep, so I get up and pray, read the Bible or write portions of my Systematic Theology. As I drive to work on those early mornings, I frequently see Law Enforcement doing a DUI stop along the highways. At this time I frequently thank God for his involvement in my life. That I have better things to do with my time than close bars and night clubs. I also pray for those people that they may one day be called to spend those early morning hours with God as I am.
I believe that prayer is not something I should do just at Church or just before meals. To really have a special relationship with the Spirit of God I want to pray all the time, and continually immerse myself in the Holy Spirit:
p.1821-1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 Be joyful always; pray continually;(18)give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
KJV-PROVERBS 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (6)In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path.
NLT-PHILLIPIANS 4:6 Don’t worry about anything. Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (7)If you do this, you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
I believe God was pleased when King Solomon asked for wisdom. Therefore I frequently pray for the wisdom, the energy and the attitude to work safely, efficiently and productively, in a way that pleases God, and provides well for my family:
p.659-2CHRONICLES 1:11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, (12)therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.
NLT-EPHESIANS 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
p.1815 COLOSSIANS 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for men.
In his Purpose Driven Life book, Rick Warren says, “Another of Brother Lawrence’s helpful ideas was to pray shorter conversational prayers continually through the day rather than trying to pray long sessions of complex prayers. To maintain focus and counteract wandering thoughts, he said, “I do not advise you to use a great multiplicity of words in prayer, since long discourses are often the occasions for wandering”…The Bible tells us to pray all the time. How is it possible to do this. One way is to use breath prayers throughout the day, as many Christians have done for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath: You are with me, I receive your grace, I’m depending on you, I want to know you, I belong to you, help me trust you. You can also use a short phrase of scripture. For me to live is Christ, You will never leave me, You are my God. Pray it as often as possible so it is rooted deep in your heart. Just be sure your motive is to honor God not control him.”
Some Catholics and other religions pray the “Hail O Mary”, a prayer to the Mother of Jesus. I believe that she is dead and can not hear or answer our prayers. I do believe in praying to God for Mary and for any other loved ones who have past on. Many religions also pray the Lords prayer. Notice in Matthew 6:9, (red print) Jesus in reference to what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, doesn’t say this is what you should pray, but how you should pray:
MATTHEW 6:9 This then is how you should pray.
I do not believe it is wrong to say the Lord’s Prayer. In fact I like to say it at least once a day. When I say it, I try not to say it ritualistically, but with understanding and thought for each verse. Our Father in heaven, I look at the moon, stars or sky or try to picture heaven in my mind, hollowed(means honored)be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, Regardless of what we go through and which prayers are not answered, I believe it is important to sincerely accept God’s perfect will, on earth as it is in heaven, I try to picture the sky and the heavens coming down over the Earth. Give us this day our daily bread, I try to think about a recent or future meal and give thanks or actually touch food that I am about to eat. Forgive us our trespasses, I try to think of recent sins and ask for forgiveness, as we forgive those who trespass against us, I think of somebody who may have sinned against me or that I am angry or resentful toward and ask God to help me let it go. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, I try to think of recent or current temptations and ask God to give me the strength to turn away.
NLT-1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
NLT-ROMANS 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
NKJV-MATTHEW 6:13 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
On at least a daily basis I also pray for: our parents and their loved ones, our Senior Pastor, his family and our Church family, our Church Elders, our Home Group Leader and our Home Group family, our President and his family(even if I did not vote for him), all the soldiers who are serving our country, our sisters and their families, all friends, acquaintances, strangers and loved ones who are ill or otherwise struggling. I also pray for my wife, daughter, son, dog, home and myself. As I pray for people, I try to pause long enough to picture each one in my mind. I pray that we have safe travels. I thank God that we have been safe and healthy and pray that we continue to be safe and healthy. I thank God for our employments and the opportunities to provide for our family. And I tell God I love him. We are always asking God to bless us. I like to ask God what he would like me to do to bless him.
Most of my Christian friends, close their prayers with “In Jesus name we pray” I was raised Catholic. Most of my Catholic friends start and close their prayers with “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen. When I pray out loud amongst friends and family, I close with “In the name of Jesus”. When I pray alone, I start and finish my prayers with “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”. I guess I feel like, by saying, “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” at the start of my prayers, I am kind of like dialing God up on the first wireless, Spiritual phone. Realistically I do not think God expects to be addressed by any formalities. I think God is pleased when we talk to him like we are talking to a friend, with casual sincere respect and affection. Regardless of what we say, God knows and is more interested in where our heart is:
p.433-1 SAMUEL 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
NLT-JAMES 4:2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure.
Regardless of how or when I pray or what I pray about. I like to close with Amen:
NLT-2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 For all God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say Amen when we give glory to God through Christ.
There is a recent hit song by Country Music artist Martina McBride called “Anyway”. One line of the song says, “God is great. But sometimes life ain’t good. And when I pray. It doesn’t always turn out like I think it should. But I do it anyway.
WOW! I had no idea that it would take nearly 11 pages to provide a deep enough pool of info about the Holy Spirit, to allow everyone whose heart prompts them, to immerse themselves in the Holy Spirit.
The same George Barna survey that I referred to at the beginning of this Chapter, that revealed such a small percentage of believers in the Holy Spirit, also revealed that 59% of Bible believing Christians agreed that Satan is not a living being but a symbol of evil.
While I myself seldom give Satan any acknowledgement, I do believe that he is a very real, very living, very deadly force. I am trembling right now as I try to type this. Therefore, before I begin any writings about Satan, I submit myself first to God and pray that God send his Holy Spirit to guard me from Satan, and to guide my writings to provide inspiration so others will join me in putting on the full armor of God so that we may take our stand against Satan’s evil schemes.
I will first try to answer a common question about Satan. If God created everything, why would he have created Satan?:
NLT-COLOSSIANS 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. (16)Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see-kings, kingdoms, rulers and authorities. (17)He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
I do not believe that God created Satan as an evil being. I believe that God created Satan and the rest of the angels, just as he created Adam and the rest of us, with FREE WILL:
GENESIS 2:15 The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (16)And the Lord God commanded the man you are free to eat from any tree in the garden.
I know that I would not find love for me that is forced to be very pleasing and I believe that although God desires love, He wants love that is given freely, not out of His obligation. I believe that he created the devil also known as Satan and the rest of the angels the same way. Scripture tells us that Satan used this freedom of choice to become evil and oppose God:
p.1899-REVELATION 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels fought back. (8)But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. (9)The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
I believe that Satan, the father of lies, also known as the Antichrist, chose to use his evil deception to persuade a third of the angels who also had free will, to follow him:
p.1877-1 JOHN 2:22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the Antichrist-he denies the Father and the Son.
p.1649-JOHN 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
p.1899-REVELATION 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven, an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. (4)His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so he might devour her child the moment it was born. (5)She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his thrown.
p.1879-1 JOHN 4:2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3)but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.
p.1882-2 JOHN 1:7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
The Dictionary in the back of one of my Bibles defines Antichrist as: Foe of Christ. The last of many who oppose Christ, he will be his greatest opponent and will be empowered by Satan. After a brief but very destructive career he will be defeated by Christ at his second coming. Also a title for other enemies of Christ.
I believe that when I feel a nudge or hear a voice inside telling me to do things that are sinful according to the Bible, I should identify it as the voice of Satan:
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; (20)idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (21)and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
p.1827-1 TIMOTHY 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
The Dictionary in the back of one of my Bibles defines Demon as: Devil, An evil spirit who has continually opposed God since the rebellion and fall of Satan.
I believe that although I may want some of those sinful desires because they seem fun or pleasing at the time, that if I do those things then I belong to the Devil:
p.1649-JOHN 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.
I believe that the consequence for belonging to Satan is eternity in a fiery Hell:
p.1531-MATTHEW 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
p.1613-LUKE 16:22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23)In hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side, so he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.
p.1884-JUDE 1:7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
p.1910-REVELATION 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name is not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
p.1508-MATTHEW 13:40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. (41)The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. (42)They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
p.1910-REVELATION 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all the liars, their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
I agree with the teaching of my Home Group Leader that I may feel confident of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit if I feel guilt in regard to sin. I believe that when I feel a nudge or hear a voice inside telling me to do things that the Bible tells me are fruits of the Spirit, I should identify that voice as the Holy Spirit:
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23)gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
p.1664-JOHN 16:7 But I tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going away. Unless I go away the counselor will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you. (8)When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin.
p.1662-JOHN 14:26 But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
p.1664-JOHN 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
I believe that I also have the freedom to choose which force I may follow:
NLT-ROMANS 6:16 Don’t you realize that what ever you choose to obey becomes your master. You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.
I believe that sometimes it may be confusing to me whether the voice I hear is Satan or the Holy Spirit who is battling it out for control of my salvation:
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
p.1879-1 JOHN 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3)but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.
I believe that if I let my spiritual journey stop at my baptism by water or if I suppress the Holy Spirit and fail to take sides with him, I may allow the evil spirit to gain advantage in the battle. Just as I gain salvation by repenting of my sins and trusting in Jesus, I believe I may forfeit it just as easy if I deny Jesus or let Satan lead me astray from faith and down the road of unrepentant sin. My salvation may remain safe if I invite the Holy Spirit to be my accountability partner in the battle against sin:
NLT-GALATIANS 5:4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.
p.1826-1 TIMOTHY The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
I believe that if I loose my salvation, it may be impossible for me to ever regain it:
p.1846-HEBREWS 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, (6)if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
When I feel confused or unsure then I should pray to The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and read the Bible to look for guidance:
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (18)And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
If I love Jesus and want to be a son of God, and have eternal life, then I should choose to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit:
p.1662-JOHN 14:23 Jesus replied, If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home in him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (25)All this I have spoken while still with you. (26)But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you
p.1740-ROMANS 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (14)because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
I have heard some say that if they feel tempted by Satan, that they rebuke him and yell at him to get away. I believe that by talking to Satan, I could unintentionally pray to Satan, thus allowing myself to become easier prey for Satan. I believe it is better for me to submit only to God by praying to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, to take on the full armor of God so that there is no room for Satan to enter me:
JAMES 4:7 Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
p.1489-MATTHEW 4:10 Jesus said to him, away from me Satan! For it is written: worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. (11)Then the devil left him, and the angels came and attended him.
p.1870-1 PETER 5:8 Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (11)Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes. (12)For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (13)Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (14)Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (15)and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (16)In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (17)Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (18)And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
I believe that if my heart lacks of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, then I may allow room for Satan’s evil to enter me and influence me to do evil things, just as he did to Judas:
p.1624 LUKE 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas called Iscariot, one of the twelve. (4)And Judas went to the Chief Priests and the officers of the Temple Guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
As I believe that God gave all free will to make choices, I believe that Pride is an emotion that, if I choose not to control it, can lead to serious sinful actions. I believe it was pride that caused one of Gods guardian angels, Morning Star to fall and become Satan. I believe that his pride caused him to think that he should rule over God:
NLT-EZEKIEL28:16 Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. (17)Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.
p.1071-ISAIAH 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you once laid low the nations! (13)You said in your heart I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. (14)I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High. (15)But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
I believe that it is pride and self admiration that if not controlled causes one to have such an excessive desire to be admired by others; that envy of someone else receiving all the attention may cause one with sensitive uncontrolled pride to lash out. I believe it was the pride of others that threatened Jesus from the time he was born until he was crucified. I believe that it was pride and threat of losing his rule that caused King Herod to want Jesus killed. Matthew 2:1-16, tells us that after the Magi (wise men) told King Herod that a King of the Jews had been born; he was disturbed and gave an order that all boys born in the vicinity of Bethlehem, two years and younger were to be killed. Luke 4:22-30, tells us that the people of the synagogue (likely religious leaders) were furious when they heard that Jesus was sharing scripture and all spoke well of him and were amazed at his words. I believe that because their leadership was threatened, the people of the synagogue attempted to throw Jesus off a cliff. John 7:1-5 tells us that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him, and told him to show himself. I believe it was their pride that caused them to feel jealous of the attention Jesus was getting and to want him to show himself so he would be caught. John 11:47-50 tells about the Pharisees’ plot to kill Jesus. I believe that it was pride and the threat of losing their following to Jesus that caused the Pharisees and high priest to decide it would be better for Jesus and Lazarus to die. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. There is no Biblical record that anyone ever saw Jesus as a physical threat. But because their pride was so sensitive, some saw him as such an emotional threat, they made up false excuses to kill Jesus. Even Pilate understood the underlying reason the Pharisees wanted Jesus crucified:
JOHN 12:10 So the Chief Priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,(11)For on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
p.1536 MATTHEW 27:17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, which one do you want me to release to you? Barrabas or Jesus who is called Christ (18)For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
I believe that God considers pride to be a very serious sin:
p.1747 ROMANS 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited
p.996 PROVERBS 15:25 The Lord tears down the proud man’s house. But he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact.
p.997 PROVERBS 16:5 The Lord tests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this, they will not go unpunished.
PROVERBS 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked are sin.
p.984 PROVERBS 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
p.1031 ECCLESSIASTES 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride.
p.1052 ISAIAH 2:11 The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low. The Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
NLT-ISAIAH 2:12 In that day, the Lord almighty will punish the proud, bringing them to the dust.
NLT-ISAIAH 13:11 I the Lord will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and the haughtiness of the mighty.
p.1747 ROMANS 12:3 For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you. Do not think of yourself more highly then you are ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
p,1458 ZEPHANIAH 3:11 On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my Holy hill.
I believe that I have experienced God sightings because of my pride. Like King Nebuchadnezzer, there have been times when my boasting was fresh on my lips and God humbled me. I know that if I exalt myself, God may choose to humble me:
p.1371 DANIEL 4:28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. (29)Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of his royal palace of Babylon (30)He said, is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? (30)The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you King Nebuchadnezzar, your royal authority has been taken from you. (32)You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals, you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
p.1616 LUKE 18:14 I tell the truth that this man rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
p.1182 JEREMIAH 9:23 This is what the Lord says, Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches. (24)But let him who boasts, boast about this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight declares the Lord.
I try to avoid taking sole credit for anything that I accomplish. When somebody compliments something I have done, I usually say,”Oh, I had a little help from the big guy upstairs.” I usually hear Jesus laughing at me, saying, “Little help, yeah right LaFever, you couldn’t do anything without a LOT of help from me.” I have tried real hard to stop using the term “I” and get in the habit of using the term “we” referring to Jesus and I, for I know that apart from Jesus I can do nothing:
p.1662 JOHN 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him. He will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.
I have also tried to treat the statement “I will” as sin. I have tried to get in the habit of saying “God willing” when I discuss plans, no matter how certain I may be in my own mind of what I expect to happen:
p.1863 JAMES 4:13 Now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city spend a year there, carry on business and make money. (14)Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life. You are mist that appears for a little way and then vanishes. (15)Instead you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. (16)As it is you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (17)Anyone then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.
p.1015 PROVERBS 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
As you were reading the section about pride, you may have wondered why I would have included such a long discussion about pride in a paper that started out about the Holy Spirit. I wondered myself a few times. But now I am going to try to bring it full circle as I close with how pride interferes with our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
I believe that if I truly believe in the Holy Spirit and what the New Testament says about the Holy Spirit, then I understand that I am not under the Old Testament Law, that includes the Ten Commandments wrote on tablets of stone. I am to live according to the Laws established in the New Testament and according to what is written in my heart by the Holy Spirit:
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (4)Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. (5)Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. (6)He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (7)Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, (8)will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious. (9)If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness.
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
I believe that following Old Testament Laws, demonstrates weak faith, but I should not judge, or tempt others who demonstrate weak faith, when they choose to follow Old Testament Laws given to the Nation of Israel through Moses:
p.1749-ROMANS 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. (2) One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. (3)The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
I also believe that following Old Testament Laws is being disobedient to the Laws of The New Testament given to me from God through Apostle Paul. I believe there is the New Law that God gave to Paul (named Saul at birth) in Arabia (Mount Sinai according to some commentaries) for the Nation of Israel, the Gentiles, for all:
NLT-ACTS 9:15 But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to the Kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
p.1790-GALATIANS 1:11 I want you to know, brothers that the gospel I preach is not something that I made up. (12)I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it from Jesus Christ.
I believe that it was pride that caused some of the Pharisees to attempt to force the Law of Moses on to the Gentiles, the new believers in Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees new that they had already lived according to the Law of Moses and that by bringing it up, they could exalt themselves:
p.1702- ACTS 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.
The Apostles led by Peter, James, and Paul met with the Elders and had much discussion on the issue of applying the Old Laws to the Christian converts. They sent the Church at Antioch the following statement:
p.1704-ACTS 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: (29)You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
At one time our Church had a dress code for the students. Girls and boys were expected to be dressed appropriately. As a few years went by, my wife and I noticed a few girls wearing clothes that violated the old rules. Our daughter continued to dress according to the old rules. My wife and I brought the issue up at a couple of Leader Meetings. Were we really concerned about how the other girls were dressing or were we attempting to exalt ourselves because we knew we were meeting the higher standard of the old rules?
Some modern Churches teach that Christians are to follow the Old Testament Law of Tithing. That is giving 10% of their income to the Church. I believe that in some cases, this teaching is motivated by pride. I believe that in the same way; if I measure the percentage of my giving out to be 10% of anything, how can I be sure that my motive for giving is not an attempt to gain righteousness by practicing the principle of the Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses? Or an attempt to exalt myself to a position of judging others, in order to boost my pride as I may be able to feel superior over so many because of the fact that I know a large majority do not follow the Old Testament Law of tithing. I believe that both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach me to give generously:
p.291-DEUTERONOMY 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
p.989-PROVERBS 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
p.1007-PROVERBS 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
p.1830-1 TIMOTHY 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. (19)In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
I believe that both the Old Testament and New Testament teach me that greed is a very serious sin. I believe that greed is evidence of the absence of a generous heart:
p.996-PROVERBS 15:27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live
p.1018-PROVERBS 28:25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
p.1758-1 CORINTHIANS 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived: Nether the sexually immoral not idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10)not thieves not the greedy nor drunkards not slanderers will inherit the kingdom of God.
p.1526-MATTHEW 23:25 Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.
p.1604-LUKE 12:15 Then he said to them, Watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
p.1802-EPHESIANS 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
p.1870-1 PETER 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money but eager to serve.
I believe that if I give to comply with Church teachings or Church Membership expectations, I am giving under compulsion, and treating the Church as an idol. I believe that I better follow the New Testament Biblical principles of giving, by giving according to what the Holy Spirit lays on my heart. If I feel led by the Holy Spirit to give 10% of my income, then that is what I should do. I believe that the more freely I give, the more obedient I am to God's later commands of the New Testament. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Is a common verse used by some Pastors and Televangelists to pressure Christians into giving beyond their means.
They commonly overlook the very next verse and a few other significant New Testament verses. I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6, he is referring to giving as he writes about in verse 7:
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
p.1783-2 CORINTHIANS 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
I believe that for all I do, especially giving and serving, that I should always prayerfully seek the authorization of Jesus, get to know Jesus and then follow what is written in my heart, by the Holy Spirit and sow to please the Spirit. I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in GALATIONS 6:8, he is referring to serving as he talks about doing in verse 9:
GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.(9)Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
NLT-MATTHEW 7:22 On judgment day, many will tell me lord, lord. We prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name (23)But I will reply, I never knew you. Go away, the things you did were unauthorized.
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
I believe that if any Christian Church is truly "Faith Based" and believes that immersion in the Holy Spirit is a baptism that is important for Christians, it will encourage it’s congregation to pray and open their heart to the Holy Spirit. The Church will then place its' faith and trust in the will of God. If God is pleased with the fruit of the ministry, and the intentions and accomplishments of a Church, then he will send the Holy Spirit to lead the hearts and minds of the congregation, in order to provide for that work. If the congregation fails to prayerfully immerse itself in the Holy Spirit, the people of the congregation not only become more vulnerable to sin and the forces of Satan, the congregation may not adequately receive the message from the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit calls the peo, the Holy Spirit just might get a busy signal.
A common belief amongst Christians, is that if we repent, all of our sins will be forgiven:
p.1678-ACTS 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture tells us that all sins will be forgiven, except blaspheme against the Holy Spirit:
p.1545-MARK 3:28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. (29)But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
p.1504-MATTHEW 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. (32)Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Just as I believe denying God or Jesus is blaspheme against God and Jesus, I believe that denying the Holy Spirit is blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. I shudder at the thought of not following the Holy Spirit as instructed by the New Testament.
Why does such a large percentage of Bible believing Christians deny the existence of the Holy Spirit? I believe that a large reason so many suppress a belief in the Holy Spirit is the same reason we refuse to ask for directions. PRIDE. We do not want to admit that we do not know it all. We do not want to admit that we need the assistance of anyone, even the Holy Spirit, to do anything. For many, there is one thing harder than asking for directions. Admitting we have been wrong. For those who have been good Christians all or most of their life, but have not acknowledged the existence of the Holy Spirit, to then admit that they have been wrong by blindly following some Old Testament Laws, when maybe the Holy Spirit would have told them differently, could cause a serious blow to the pride. I believe that pride is simply the absence of humility. During an extraordinary sermon the Associate Pastor of our Church told us that in humility even the Magi (wise men) admitted that they did not know it all and listened to God and protected the Baby Jesus from King Herod. The Pastor also told us that America’s original philosophical theologian, Jonathon Edwards said, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the Devil’s reach as humility.” And that St. Augustine said, “Pride changed angels in to devils. Referring to Lucifer who was God’s Worship Leader who out of pride turned against God and was cast out of heaven along with a third of the angels turned into demons. It is humility that makes men angels.” I have also heard it said that people that believe in religion do so because they need a crutch to lean on. I agree. I admit that I do not know it all. I do need a crutch called the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps another reason so many deny existence of the Holy Spirit is because they cannot see him. We cannot see the wind but we believe that it exists. We can feel it nudge us as it moves past us and we hear it as it blows, and we can see it move things. In the same way I believe in the Holy Spirit because I can feel him nudge me, I can hear him speak to me, and I have seen him move many things in my life. And the Bible, the word of God, tells me that the Holy Spirit exists.
I would like to sincerely thank my Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Home Group Leader and the Holy Spirit for guiding me with so much inspiring teachings over the years. I am sure that although we might not all agree with all of my beliefs shared here, I believe that our desire to lead as many to salvation as possible is unanimous.
God willing, unless I feel a strong nudge from the Holy Spirit, I do not plan to write another chapter of my Systematic Theology for a few years. I have an 18 year old and a 15 year old at home. Writing these Theologies takes a significant amount of time. I would like to make the most of the time that I have with my kids. As my Senior Pastor once said, our ministry should begin at home.
I pray that these writings have been Gods words sent to me by the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Tim LaFever
Revised 9-18-10
Thanks so muuch for taking the time to visit my Web Site.
As in Chapters One and Two, these writings are not intended to be teachings, or to change anybodies’ heartfelt belief. I intend to state my beliefs and back them up with Scripture. I believe that others should not blindly believe anything that is written here, or anything that is taught by anybody else for that matter. I believe that I should not rely on a Televangelists, Senior Pastor, Home Group Leader, Website or any body else to feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word every day, not just Sunday. I believe that I should examine all of God's Word entirely, both Old Testament and New Testament and prayerfully consider in my own heart what the truth is:
p.1707-ACTS 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Before I go any farther, I pray that these words are God’s words sent to me through the Holy Spirit. I pray that these writings are God’s words, that I am just working the keyboard.
All scriptures listed below are from the NIV Bible translation unless otherwise noted. The page numbers are of my Giant Print NIV Bible.
I guess the best place to begin, would be in the beginning. Scripture tells me that the Holy Spirit and Jesus were with God in the beginning of creation. John 17:5 indicates that Jesus was actually with God before the world began. The term “Word” in the scriptures below, refers to Jesus:
NLT-COLOSSIANS 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.
p.1665-JOHN 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (5)And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
p.1632-JOHN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (2)He was with God in the beginning.
p.1632-JOHN 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.
Genesis 1:1 indicates that the Holy Spirit was with God before man was created, while the earth was empty:
p.1-GENESIS 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
God’s use of the terms “us” and “our” in Genesis 1:26 indicates that Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit helped God make man in their image and likeness:
p.2-GENESIS 1:26 Then God said let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
Like most Christians, I believe that I need to believe in Jesus to be saved:
p.1636-JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
p.1744-ROMANS 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10)For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
p.1744-ROMANS 10:13 for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
p.1706-ACTS 16:30 He then brought them out and asked, Sirs what must I do to be saved? (31)They replied, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved-you and your household.
p.1661-JOHN 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
p.1501-MATTHEW 10:32 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
p.1673-JOHN 20:31 But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
I believe that while baptizing babies with water is a lot of fun and a great photo opportunity, doing so does not gain a child salvation. According to scripture, heaven already belongs to children:
p.1515 MATTHEW 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
MATTHEW 19:14 Jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (15)I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.
I believe that a child is unable to make the decisions, and to do and say the things necessary to gain salvation:
p.1744-ROMANS 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (14)How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard.
Many accept sprinkling of water for baptism as described in the Old Testament:
p.1339-EZEKIEL 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean, I will cleanse you from your impurities and from all your idols. (26)I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will remove from you, your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (27)And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Some Christians believe that baptism in water is unnecessary for salvation. According to scripture this is at least slightly understandable. I believe that the criminal that hung on a cross near Jesus during his crucifixion was taken to heaven because he believed in Jesus. I have found no mention that the criminal was baptized in any way:
p.1628-LUKE 23:42 Then he said, Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. (43)Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.
I believe that as a Christian, I should be baptized by immersion in water. By walking as Jesus did, we mark our decision to live in him:
p.1876-1 JOHN 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
I believe that as Mark 1:10 and Matthew 3:16 refer to Jesus coming up out of the water, scripture indicates that Jesus was baptized by immersion in water. Dr. David R. Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries says, “The English word baptism is a transliteration of the Greek word, baptizo. The Greek word means to immerse. Thus John the Baptist was really John the Immerser.”
p.1488-MATTHEW 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. (14)But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me. Jesus replied, let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented. (16)As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment the heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
p.1540-MARK 1:9 At the time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10)As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
I also believe that I need the Holy Spirit to believe in Jesus:
p.1767-1 CORINTHIANS 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus be cursed, and no one can say, Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
I believe that after his baptism, Jesus received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
p.1540-MARK 1:10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
p.1488-MATTHEW 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment the heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
I believe that after I accept Jesus and am baptized by immersion in water, then I receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit, which can not be bought with money. I also receive the power and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
p.1689-ACTS 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money (19)and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (20)Peter answered:”May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money.
p.1675-ACTS 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (5)For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
p.1678-ACTS 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
p.1675-ACTS 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
p.1736-ROMANS 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
If the apostles knew that someone had only been baptized in Jesus, they would go out of their way to make sure that new believers also received the Holy Spirit:
p.1689-ACTS 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. (15)When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (16)because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them, they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
I believe I should take care of my body because it is not my own. Once I receive the Holy Spirit, my body becomes his Temple:
p.1757-1 CORINTHIANS 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you. (17)If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him, for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
p.1760-1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, (20)you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
p.1740-ROMANS 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
I believe that scripture indicates that as well as believing in Jesus, and being baptized in water, being baptized (immersed) in, and born again of the Holy Spirit, is critical to being saved:
p.1635-JOHN 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
p.1636-JOHN 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (6)Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (7)You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again.
p.1539-MATTHEW 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
p.1768-1CORINTHIANS 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
I am sure that many Christians may disagree with the necessity of all three of the things I have discussed here: Jesus, baptism in water, and baptism in the Holy Spirit to be saved. I would prefer to have all three and not need them, rather than take chances with how I spend eternity. Many may disagree with the importance that I put on the Holy Spirit. Even if the Holy Spirit is not necessary for salvation, I guess that I want everybody to be blessed with the same kind of relationship that I and many others have with the Holy Spirit. I believe there are many at Church that go up front at the time of invitation and state that they believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and accept him as their Lord and Savior. And they are baptized by immersion in water. And then because the Church tells them so, they believe they are saved. And basically, for many, because a Church immerses in water, but only sprinkles the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual journey stops there. I think it is a shame that so many go on without accepting the immersion that establishes and maintains that special relationship with the Holy Spirit. I believe that because the Church tells me about God, I may know about God. But I believe that if I leave out the Holy Spirit I will only know about God, but I will not know God:
NLT-HOSEA 6:6 I want you to be merciful, I don’t want your sacrifices. I want you to know God, that’s more important than burnt offerings.
p.1665-JOHN 17:3 Now this is eternal life that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
How do I get to know somebody? A couple good ways is by talking to them, and sharing time with them. Being a father, I know how pleasing it is to me to share time with my children. I am sure that our Heavenly Father is just as pleased when his children share time with him. I can talk to God through prayer and I believe that one way God speaks back to me is through his Word. Scripture tells us that God revealed himself to Samuel through his word. I believe that God continues to do that. I used to tend to blame the Church for not helping people to establish a deeper relationship with God and the Holy Spirit, for letting the journey stop after the baptism. Actually, the Church constantly tries to encourage the congregation to stay in the Bible throughout the week and to attend Bible studies or Home Groups. I believe that I can always spend more time in His Word on my own. From Sunday to Sunday, many do not touch a Bible. I believe that I should not rely on a Church, a Televangelist, a Senior Pastor, or a Home Group Leader to spoon feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word everyday not just Sunday. Rick Warren says, “It is impossible to be God’s friend apart from knowing what he says. You can’t love God unless you know him, and you can’t know him without knowing his word.” There have been many times that I have had Biblical questions, especially when I was preparing to write Chapter 2. I would pray about the question, open my heart and then open the Bible and stumble directly on a verse that would answer my question:
p.413-1 SAMUEL 3:21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.
p.1489-MATTHEW 4:4 Jesus answered, It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God
p.1860-JAMES 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says. (23)Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24)and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
p.1744-ROMANS 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
p.1844-HEBREWS 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper then any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
I believe that I also get to know The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit by loving God, loving others and obeying the commands of Jesus:
NLT-JOHN 14:15 If you love me, obey my commandments. (16)And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate, who will never leave you. (17)He is the Holy Spirit, who leads you in all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you
NLT-JOHN 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (13)Greater love has no one other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (14)You are my friends if you do what I command.
A few years ago we got a new puppy. We were trying to decide on a name. One night, my wife prayed to God to help her find a word in the Bible that we could use as a name for our puppy. She opened the Bible, put her finger down and started reading what just happened to be Romans 10:8, “the word is near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith. We named our puppy Faith.
I also believe that God speaks to us through other people. There have been many times, that I have been sitting in Church listening to a sermon, and I was certain that the Minister was talking directly to me. I would hear something that I needed to hear or I would hear the answer to a question that had been keeping me awake the night before. One day I was doing volunteer work at a local homeless shelter. I was attempting to remove 6 tree stumps that were sticking out of the ground. I had never removed stumps before so I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I had a large truck, a shovel, and a chainsaw. I had started by attaching a strap to the roots of the first stump and was pulling with my truck and digging around the roots with a shovel. After about 2 hours, I had 1 stump out. Feeling pretty frustrated, I knelt down in the back of my truck and I prayed that God would give me the wisdom to finish removing the rest of the stumps. At this point I was considering sticking the blade of my chainsaw into the dirt to cut the roots. Within minutes a man that I had never seen before, walked up and started chatting with me. He mentioned that he had removed stumps before by tying on to the stump up near the top to get more leverage. Within a few minutes another man walked up and told me he got dirt in the blade of a chainsaw before and it ruined it.
So I attached my strap to the stumps as high as I could and used an axe to chop the roots. I ended up getting the other 5 stumps out in about the same time it took me to remove the first 1. I am certain that God sent those 2 strangers as messengers to provide me with the knowledge to answer my prayers. Many would call my stories about God answering our prayers coincidences. My friends and my family and I all call them God Sightings. I could tell you true stories all day about God Sightings that I have experienced.
I also believe it pleases God when I speak to him through songs of praise:
KJV-PSALM 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
And I believe that God speaks back to me through songs. I frequently hear a song on Christian music radio called “God Speaking” by an artist named Mandisa. One line of the song says “Who knows how He’ll get a hold of us. Get our attention to prove he is enough. He’ll use and He’ll do what ever he wants to, to tell us I love you.” I believe that it was a God sighting that I heard that song on the radio a few weeks ago while I was meditating about this chapter.
I believe it is the Holy Spirit dwelling in me that communicates with me to share the thoughts of God:
1 CORINTHIANS 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (11)For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him. In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
p.1662-JOHN 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (25)All this I have spoken while still with you. (26)But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
p.1664-JOHN 16:12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (13)But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (14)He will bring glory to me by making it known to you. (15)All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
I believe that I receive my gifts from the Holy Spirit:
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each one of us as a means of helping the entire church. (8)To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advise, to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. (9)The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. (10)He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, another is given the gift to interpret what is being said.
And I believe it is the Holy Spirit that has the will to decide which abilities I receive and which abilities I do not receive:
NLT-1 CORINTHIANS 12:11 It is the one and only Holy Sprit who decides these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
I believe that if I sow to please the Spirit I will reap eternal life. I believe that in order to please the Spirit, I need to pray to God to find out what his Spirit wants from me. I believe that just as sowing cultivates crops; by sowing to please the Spirit I may cultivate a deeper relationship with the Spirit of God:
GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Rick Warren says, “Don’t wait until tomorrow to begin cultivating a friendship with God. Start today by practicing constant conversation with God and continual meditation on his Word. Prayer lets you speak to God; meditation lets God speak to you.”
As Jesus did, I believe it is good to pray alone:
p.1541-MARK 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
p.1510-MATTHEW 14:23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray, when evening came he was there alone.
p.1585-LUKE 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
p.1493-MATTHEW 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
During a March 15th 2009 sermon, our Senior Pastor told us that Mark 1:35, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, likely refers to the last watch of the night between 3a.m. and 6a.m. I kind of related to the Pastor’s description of Mark 1:35, how Jesus likely spent time alone with God sometime between 3am and 6am. I am frequently driving 30 to 180 minutes to work starting at 2:30am in the morning. I commonly spend much of the time praying, listening to CD recordings of the Bible or listening to CD sermons by my favorite Pastors. On my days off, as much as I need sleep, I am frequently awakened at 3a.m. by the Holy Spirit churning questions and answers in my heart. Sometimes the callings are so persistent that I can't get back to sleep, so I get up and pray, read the Bible or write portions of my Systematic Theology. As I drive to work on those early mornings, I frequently see Law Enforcement doing a DUI stop along the highways. At this time I frequently thank God for his involvement in my life. That I have better things to do with my time than close bars and night clubs. I also pray for those people that they may one day be called to spend those early morning hours with God as I am.
I believe that prayer is not something I should do just at Church or just before meals. To really have a special relationship with the Spirit of God I want to pray all the time, and continually immerse myself in the Holy Spirit:
p.1821-1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 Be joyful always; pray continually;(18)give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
KJV-PROVERBS 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (6)In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path.
NLT-PHILLIPIANS 4:6 Don’t worry about anything. Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (7)If you do this, you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
I believe God was pleased when King Solomon asked for wisdom. Therefore I frequently pray for the wisdom, the energy and the attitude to work safely, efficiently and productively, in a way that pleases God, and provides well for my family:
p.659-2CHRONICLES 1:11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, (12)therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.
NLT-EPHESIANS 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
p.1815 COLOSSIANS 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for men.
In his Purpose Driven Life book, Rick Warren says, “Another of Brother Lawrence’s helpful ideas was to pray shorter conversational prayers continually through the day rather than trying to pray long sessions of complex prayers. To maintain focus and counteract wandering thoughts, he said, “I do not advise you to use a great multiplicity of words in prayer, since long discourses are often the occasions for wandering”…The Bible tells us to pray all the time. How is it possible to do this. One way is to use breath prayers throughout the day, as many Christians have done for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath: You are with me, I receive your grace, I’m depending on you, I want to know you, I belong to you, help me trust you. You can also use a short phrase of scripture. For me to live is Christ, You will never leave me, You are my God. Pray it as often as possible so it is rooted deep in your heart. Just be sure your motive is to honor God not control him.”
Some Catholics and other religions pray the “Hail O Mary”, a prayer to the Mother of Jesus. I believe that she is dead and can not hear or answer our prayers. I do believe in praying to God for Mary and for any other loved ones who have past on. Many religions also pray the Lords prayer. Notice in Matthew 6:9, (red print) Jesus in reference to what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, doesn’t say this is what you should pray, but how you should pray:
MATTHEW 6:9 This then is how you should pray.
I do not believe it is wrong to say the Lord’s Prayer. In fact I like to say it at least once a day. When I say it, I try not to say it ritualistically, but with understanding and thought for each verse. Our Father in heaven, I look at the moon, stars or sky or try to picture heaven in my mind, hollowed(means honored)be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, Regardless of what we go through and which prayers are not answered, I believe it is important to sincerely accept God’s perfect will, on earth as it is in heaven, I try to picture the sky and the heavens coming down over the Earth. Give us this day our daily bread, I try to think about a recent or future meal and give thanks or actually touch food that I am about to eat. Forgive us our trespasses, I try to think of recent sins and ask for forgiveness, as we forgive those who trespass against us, I think of somebody who may have sinned against me or that I am angry or resentful toward and ask God to help me let it go. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, I try to think of recent or current temptations and ask God to give me the strength to turn away.
NLT-1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
NLT-ROMANS 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
NKJV-MATTHEW 6:13 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
On at least a daily basis I also pray for: our parents and their loved ones, our Senior Pastor, his family and our Church family, our Church Elders, our Home Group Leader and our Home Group family, our President and his family(even if I did not vote for him), all the soldiers who are serving our country, our sisters and their families, all friends, acquaintances, strangers and loved ones who are ill or otherwise struggling. I also pray for my wife, daughter, son, dog, home and myself. As I pray for people, I try to pause long enough to picture each one in my mind. I pray that we have safe travels. I thank God that we have been safe and healthy and pray that we continue to be safe and healthy. I thank God for our employments and the opportunities to provide for our family. And I tell God I love him. We are always asking God to bless us. I like to ask God what he would like me to do to bless him.
Most of my Christian friends, close their prayers with “In Jesus name we pray” I was raised Catholic. Most of my Catholic friends start and close their prayers with “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen. When I pray out loud amongst friends and family, I close with “In the name of Jesus”. When I pray alone, I start and finish my prayers with “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”. I guess I feel like, by saying, “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” at the start of my prayers, I am kind of like dialing God up on the first wireless, Spiritual phone. Realistically I do not think God expects to be addressed by any formalities. I think God is pleased when we talk to him like we are talking to a friend, with casual sincere respect and affection. Regardless of what we say, God knows and is more interested in where our heart is:
p.433-1 SAMUEL 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
NLT-JAMES 4:2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure.
Regardless of how or when I pray or what I pray about. I like to close with Amen:
NLT-2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 For all God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say Amen when we give glory to God through Christ.
There is a recent hit song by Country Music artist Martina McBride called “Anyway”. One line of the song says, “God is great. But sometimes life ain’t good. And when I pray. It doesn’t always turn out like I think it should. But I do it anyway.
WOW! I had no idea that it would take nearly 11 pages to provide a deep enough pool of info about the Holy Spirit, to allow everyone whose heart prompts them, to immerse themselves in the Holy Spirit.
The same George Barna survey that I referred to at the beginning of this Chapter, that revealed such a small percentage of believers in the Holy Spirit, also revealed that 59% of Bible believing Christians agreed that Satan is not a living being but a symbol of evil.
While I myself seldom give Satan any acknowledgement, I do believe that he is a very real, very living, very deadly force. I am trembling right now as I try to type this. Therefore, before I begin any writings about Satan, I submit myself first to God and pray that God send his Holy Spirit to guard me from Satan, and to guide my writings to provide inspiration so others will join me in putting on the full armor of God so that we may take our stand against Satan’s evil schemes.
I will first try to answer a common question about Satan. If God created everything, why would he have created Satan?:
NLT-COLOSSIANS 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. (16)Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see-kings, kingdoms, rulers and authorities. (17)He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
I do not believe that God created Satan as an evil being. I believe that God created Satan and the rest of the angels, just as he created Adam and the rest of us, with FREE WILL:
GENESIS 2:15 The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (16)And the Lord God commanded the man you are free to eat from any tree in the garden.
I know that I would not find love for me that is forced to be very pleasing and I believe that although God desires love, He wants love that is given freely, not out of His obligation. I believe that he created the devil also known as Satan and the rest of the angels the same way. Scripture tells us that Satan used this freedom of choice to become evil and oppose God:
p.1899-REVELATION 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels fought back. (8)But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. (9)The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
I believe that Satan, the father of lies, also known as the Antichrist, chose to use his evil deception to persuade a third of the angels who also had free will, to follow him:
p.1877-1 JOHN 2:22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the Antichrist-he denies the Father and the Son.
p.1649-JOHN 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
p.1899-REVELATION 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven, an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. (4)His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so he might devour her child the moment it was born. (5)She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his thrown.
p.1879-1 JOHN 4:2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3)but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.
p.1882-2 JOHN 1:7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
The Dictionary in the back of one of my Bibles defines Antichrist as: Foe of Christ. The last of many who oppose Christ, he will be his greatest opponent and will be empowered by Satan. After a brief but very destructive career he will be defeated by Christ at his second coming. Also a title for other enemies of Christ.
I believe that when I feel a nudge or hear a voice inside telling me to do things that are sinful according to the Bible, I should identify it as the voice of Satan:
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; (20)idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (21)and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
p.1827-1 TIMOTHY 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
The Dictionary in the back of one of my Bibles defines Demon as: Devil, An evil spirit who has continually opposed God since the rebellion and fall of Satan.
I believe that although I may want some of those sinful desires because they seem fun or pleasing at the time, that if I do those things then I belong to the Devil:
p.1649-JOHN 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.
I believe that the consequence for belonging to Satan is eternity in a fiery Hell:
p.1531-MATTHEW 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
p.1613-LUKE 16:22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23)In hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side, so he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.
p.1884-JUDE 1:7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
p.1910-REVELATION 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name is not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
p.1508-MATTHEW 13:40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. (41)The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. (42)They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
p.1910-REVELATION 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all the liars, their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
I agree with the teaching of my Home Group Leader that I may feel confident of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit if I feel guilt in regard to sin. I believe that when I feel a nudge or hear a voice inside telling me to do things that the Bible tells me are fruits of the Spirit, I should identify that voice as the Holy Spirit:
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23)gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
p.1664-JOHN 16:7 But I tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going away. Unless I go away the counselor will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you. (8)When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin.
p.1662-JOHN 14:26 But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
p.1664-JOHN 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
I believe that I also have the freedom to choose which force I may follow:
NLT-ROMANS 6:16 Don’t you realize that what ever you choose to obey becomes your master. You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.
I believe that sometimes it may be confusing to me whether the voice I hear is Satan or the Holy Spirit who is battling it out for control of my salvation:
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
p.1879-1 JOHN 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3)but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.
I believe that if I let my spiritual journey stop at my baptism by water or if I suppress the Holy Spirit and fail to take sides with him, I may allow the evil spirit to gain advantage in the battle. Just as I gain salvation by repenting of my sins and trusting in Jesus, I believe I may forfeit it just as easy if I deny Jesus or let Satan lead me astray from faith and down the road of unrepentant sin. My salvation may remain safe if I invite the Holy Spirit to be my accountability partner in the battle against sin:
NLT-GALATIANS 5:4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.
p.1826-1 TIMOTHY The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
I believe that if I loose my salvation, it may be impossible for me to ever regain it:
p.1846-HEBREWS 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, (6)if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
When I feel confused or unsure then I should pray to The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and read the Bible to look for guidance:
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (18)And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
If I love Jesus and want to be a son of God, and have eternal life, then I should choose to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit:
p.1662-JOHN 14:23 Jesus replied, If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home in him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (25)All this I have spoken while still with you. (26)But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you
p.1740-ROMANS 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (14)because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
I have heard some say that if they feel tempted by Satan, that they rebuke him and yell at him to get away. I believe that by talking to Satan, I could unintentionally pray to Satan, thus allowing myself to become easier prey for Satan. I believe it is better for me to submit only to God by praying to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, to take on the full armor of God so that there is no room for Satan to enter me:
JAMES 4:7 Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
p.1489-MATTHEW 4:10 Jesus said to him, away from me Satan! For it is written: worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. (11)Then the devil left him, and the angels came and attended him.
p.1870-1 PETER 5:8 Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (11)Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes. (12)For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (13)Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (14)Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (15)and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (16)In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (17)Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (18)And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
I believe that if my heart lacks of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, then I may allow room for Satan’s evil to enter me and influence me to do evil things, just as he did to Judas:
p.1624 LUKE 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas called Iscariot, one of the twelve. (4)And Judas went to the Chief Priests and the officers of the Temple Guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
As I believe that God gave all free will to make choices, I believe that Pride is an emotion that, if I choose not to control it, can lead to serious sinful actions. I believe it was pride that caused one of Gods guardian angels, Morning Star to fall and become Satan. I believe that his pride caused him to think that he should rule over God:
NLT-EZEKIEL28:16 Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. (17)Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.
p.1071-ISAIAH 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you once laid low the nations! (13)You said in your heart I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. (14)I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High. (15)But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
I believe that it is pride and self admiration that if not controlled causes one to have such an excessive desire to be admired by others; that envy of someone else receiving all the attention may cause one with sensitive uncontrolled pride to lash out. I believe it was the pride of others that threatened Jesus from the time he was born until he was crucified. I believe that it was pride and threat of losing his rule that caused King Herod to want Jesus killed. Matthew 2:1-16, tells us that after the Magi (wise men) told King Herod that a King of the Jews had been born; he was disturbed and gave an order that all boys born in the vicinity of Bethlehem, two years and younger were to be killed. Luke 4:22-30, tells us that the people of the synagogue (likely religious leaders) were furious when they heard that Jesus was sharing scripture and all spoke well of him and were amazed at his words. I believe that because their leadership was threatened, the people of the synagogue attempted to throw Jesus off a cliff. John 7:1-5 tells us that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him, and told him to show himself. I believe it was their pride that caused them to feel jealous of the attention Jesus was getting and to want him to show himself so he would be caught. John 11:47-50 tells about the Pharisees’ plot to kill Jesus. I believe that it was pride and the threat of losing their following to Jesus that caused the Pharisees and high priest to decide it would be better for Jesus and Lazarus to die. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. There is no Biblical record that anyone ever saw Jesus as a physical threat. But because their pride was so sensitive, some saw him as such an emotional threat, they made up false excuses to kill Jesus. Even Pilate understood the underlying reason the Pharisees wanted Jesus crucified:
JOHN 12:10 So the Chief Priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,(11)For on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
p.1536 MATTHEW 27:17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, which one do you want me to release to you? Barrabas or Jesus who is called Christ (18)For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
I believe that God considers pride to be a very serious sin:
p.1747 ROMANS 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited
p.996 PROVERBS 15:25 The Lord tears down the proud man’s house. But he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact.
p.997 PROVERBS 16:5 The Lord tests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this, they will not go unpunished.
PROVERBS 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked are sin.
p.984 PROVERBS 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
p.1031 ECCLESSIASTES 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride.
p.1052 ISAIAH 2:11 The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low. The Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
NLT-ISAIAH 2:12 In that day, the Lord almighty will punish the proud, bringing them to the dust.
NLT-ISAIAH 13:11 I the Lord will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and the haughtiness of the mighty.
p.1747 ROMANS 12:3 For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you. Do not think of yourself more highly then you are ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
p,1458 ZEPHANIAH 3:11 On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my Holy hill.
I believe that I have experienced God sightings because of my pride. Like King Nebuchadnezzer, there have been times when my boasting was fresh on my lips and God humbled me. I know that if I exalt myself, God may choose to humble me:
p.1371 DANIEL 4:28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. (29)Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of his royal palace of Babylon (30)He said, is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? (30)The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you King Nebuchadnezzar, your royal authority has been taken from you. (32)You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals, you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
p.1616 LUKE 18:14 I tell the truth that this man rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
p.1182 JEREMIAH 9:23 This is what the Lord says, Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches. (24)But let him who boasts, boast about this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight declares the Lord.
I try to avoid taking sole credit for anything that I accomplish. When somebody compliments something I have done, I usually say,”Oh, I had a little help from the big guy upstairs.” I usually hear Jesus laughing at me, saying, “Little help, yeah right LaFever, you couldn’t do anything without a LOT of help from me.” I have tried real hard to stop using the term “I” and get in the habit of using the term “we” referring to Jesus and I, for I know that apart from Jesus I can do nothing:
p.1662 JOHN 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him. He will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.
I have also tried to treat the statement “I will” as sin. I have tried to get in the habit of saying “God willing” when I discuss plans, no matter how certain I may be in my own mind of what I expect to happen:
p.1863 JAMES 4:13 Now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city spend a year there, carry on business and make money. (14)Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life. You are mist that appears for a little way and then vanishes. (15)Instead you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. (16)As it is you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (17)Anyone then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.
p.1015 PROVERBS 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
As you were reading the section about pride, you may have wondered why I would have included such a long discussion about pride in a paper that started out about the Holy Spirit. I wondered myself a few times. But now I am going to try to bring it full circle as I close with how pride interferes with our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
I believe that if I truly believe in the Holy Spirit and what the New Testament says about the Holy Spirit, then I understand that I am not under the Old Testament Law, that includes the Ten Commandments wrote on tablets of stone. I am to live according to the Laws established in the New Testament and according to what is written in my heart by the Holy Spirit:
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (4)Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. (5)Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. (6)He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (7)Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, (8)will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious. (9)If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness.
p.1796-GALATIANS 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
I believe that following Old Testament Laws, demonstrates weak faith, but I should not judge, or tempt others who demonstrate weak faith, when they choose to follow Old Testament Laws given to the Nation of Israel through Moses:
p.1749-ROMANS 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. (2) One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. (3)The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
I also believe that following Old Testament Laws is being disobedient to the Laws of The New Testament given to me from God through Apostle Paul. I believe there is the New Law that God gave to Paul (named Saul at birth) in Arabia (Mount Sinai according to some commentaries) for the Nation of Israel, the Gentiles, for all:
NLT-ACTS 9:15 But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to the Kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
p.1790-GALATIANS 1:11 I want you to know, brothers that the gospel I preach is not something that I made up. (12)I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it from Jesus Christ.
I believe that it was pride that caused some of the Pharisees to attempt to force the Law of Moses on to the Gentiles, the new believers in Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees new that they had already lived according to the Law of Moses and that by bringing it up, they could exalt themselves:
p.1702- ACTS 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.
The Apostles led by Peter, James, and Paul met with the Elders and had much discussion on the issue of applying the Old Laws to the Christian converts. They sent the Church at Antioch the following statement:
p.1704-ACTS 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: (29)You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
At one time our Church had a dress code for the students. Girls and boys were expected to be dressed appropriately. As a few years went by, my wife and I noticed a few girls wearing clothes that violated the old rules. Our daughter continued to dress according to the old rules. My wife and I brought the issue up at a couple of Leader Meetings. Were we really concerned about how the other girls were dressing or were we attempting to exalt ourselves because we knew we were meeting the higher standard of the old rules?
Some modern Churches teach that Christians are to follow the Old Testament Law of Tithing. That is giving 10% of their income to the Church. I believe that in some cases, this teaching is motivated by pride. I believe that in the same way; if I measure the percentage of my giving out to be 10% of anything, how can I be sure that my motive for giving is not an attempt to gain righteousness by practicing the principle of the Old Testament Tithing Law of Moses? Or an attempt to exalt myself to a position of judging others, in order to boost my pride as I may be able to feel superior over so many because of the fact that I know a large majority do not follow the Old Testament Law of tithing. I believe that both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach me to give generously:
p.291-DEUTERONOMY 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
p.989-PROVERBS 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
p.1007-PROVERBS 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
p.1830-1 TIMOTHY 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. (19)In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
I believe that both the Old Testament and New Testament teach me that greed is a very serious sin. I believe that greed is evidence of the absence of a generous heart:
p.996-PROVERBS 15:27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live
p.1018-PROVERBS 28:25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
p.1758-1 CORINTHIANS 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived: Nether the sexually immoral not idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10)not thieves not the greedy nor drunkards not slanderers will inherit the kingdom of God.
p.1526-MATTHEW 23:25 Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.
p.1604-LUKE 12:15 Then he said to them, Watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
p.1802-EPHESIANS 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
p.1814-COLOSSIANS 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
p.1870-1 PETER 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money but eager to serve.
I believe that if I give to comply with Church teachings or Church Membership expectations, I am giving under compulsion, and treating the Church as an idol. I believe that I better follow the New Testament Biblical principles of giving, by giving according to what the Holy Spirit lays on my heart. If I feel led by the Holy Spirit to give 10% of my income, then that is what I should do. I believe that the more freely I give, the more obedient I am to God's later commands of the New Testament. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Is a common verse used by some Pastors and Televangelists to pressure Christians into giving beyond their means.
They commonly overlook the very next verse and a few other significant New Testament verses. I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6, he is referring to giving as he writes about in verse 7:
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
p.1784-2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
p.1783-2 CORINTHIANS 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
I believe that for all I do, especially giving and serving, that I should always prayerfully seek the authorization of Jesus, get to know Jesus and then follow what is written in my heart, by the Holy Spirit and sow to please the Spirit. I believe that when Apostle Paul writes about “sowing” in GALATIONS 6:8, he is referring to serving as he talks about doing in verse 9:
GALATIANS 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.(9)Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
p.1804-EPHESIANS 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
NLT-MATTHEW 7:22 On judgment day, many will tell me lord, lord. We prophesied in your name, we cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name (23)But I will reply, I never knew you. Go away, the things you did were unauthorized.
p.1778-2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, The result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
I believe that if any Christian Church is truly "Faith Based" and believes that immersion in the Holy Spirit is a baptism that is important for Christians, it will encourage it’s congregation to pray and open their heart to the Holy Spirit. The Church will then place its' faith and trust in the will of God. If God is pleased with the fruit of the ministry, and the intentions and accomplishments of a Church, then he will send the Holy Spirit to lead the hearts and minds of the congregation, in order to provide for that work. If the congregation fails to prayerfully immerse itself in the Holy Spirit, the people of the congregation not only become more vulnerable to sin and the forces of Satan, the congregation may not adequately receive the message from the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit calls the peo, the Holy Spirit just might get a busy signal.
A common belief amongst Christians, is that if we repent, all of our sins will be forgiven:
p.1678-ACTS 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture tells us that all sins will be forgiven, except blaspheme against the Holy Spirit:
p.1545-MARK 3:28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. (29)But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
p.1504-MATTHEW 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. (32)Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Just as I believe denying God or Jesus is blaspheme against God and Jesus, I believe that denying the Holy Spirit is blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. I shudder at the thought of not following the Holy Spirit as instructed by the New Testament.
Why does such a large percentage of Bible believing Christians deny the existence of the Holy Spirit? I believe that a large reason so many suppress a belief in the Holy Spirit is the same reason we refuse to ask for directions. PRIDE. We do not want to admit that we do not know it all. We do not want to admit that we need the assistance of anyone, even the Holy Spirit, to do anything. For many, there is one thing harder than asking for directions. Admitting we have been wrong. For those who have been good Christians all or most of their life, but have not acknowledged the existence of the Holy Spirit, to then admit that they have been wrong by blindly following some Old Testament Laws, when maybe the Holy Spirit would have told them differently, could cause a serious blow to the pride. I believe that pride is simply the absence of humility. During an extraordinary sermon the Associate Pastor of our Church told us that in humility even the Magi (wise men) admitted that they did not know it all and listened to God and protected the Baby Jesus from King Herod. The Pastor also told us that America’s original philosophical theologian, Jonathon Edwards said, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the Devil’s reach as humility.” And that St. Augustine said, “Pride changed angels in to devils. Referring to Lucifer who was God’s Worship Leader who out of pride turned against God and was cast out of heaven along with a third of the angels turned into demons. It is humility that makes men angels.” I have also heard it said that people that believe in religion do so because they need a crutch to lean on. I agree. I admit that I do not know it all. I do need a crutch called the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps another reason so many deny existence of the Holy Spirit is because they cannot see him. We cannot see the wind but we believe that it exists. We can feel it nudge us as it moves past us and we hear it as it blows, and we can see it move things. In the same way I believe in the Holy Spirit because I can feel him nudge me, I can hear him speak to me, and I have seen him move many things in my life. And the Bible, the word of God, tells me that the Holy Spirit exists.
I would like to sincerely thank my Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Home Group Leader and the Holy Spirit for guiding me with so much inspiring teachings over the years. I am sure that although we might not all agree with all of my beliefs shared here, I believe that our desire to lead as many to salvation as possible is unanimous.
God willing, unless I feel a strong nudge from the Holy Spirit, I do not plan to write another chapter of my Systematic Theology for a few years. I have an 18 year old and a 15 year old at home. Writing these Theologies takes a significant amount of time. I would like to make the most of the time that I have with my kids. As my Senior Pastor once said, our ministry should begin at home.
I pray that these writings have been Gods words sent to me by the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Tim LaFever
Revised 9-18-10
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